Surname Pencel - Meaning and Origin

Pencel: What does the surname Pencel mean?

The last name Pencel is of French origins, derived from the Old French words “pensel” or “pencel”. It is believed to mean “paintbrush”. It is a topographical surname given to those living in areas with a dominant presence of paintbrushes, such as a farm that grew willow. It could also describe someone who worked with paintbrushes in some capacity.

The Pencel surname was first seen in the northern region of France during the 13th century. During the medieval times, the Pencels were most commonly associated with the nobility, renown for prowess in battle and serving as knights and rangers. This made it an honor for a man to bear the Pencel name.

The Pencel family spread out of from northern France to other parts of Europe as the years passed. Today, the Pencel name is commonly found in France, Ireland, Scotland, England, and many parts of Europe.

The Pencel name represents the strength of family and the determination to succeed. It brings with it a sense of strength of character and pride of family history. It harkens back to a time when people worked hard to secure their livelihood and build a strong life for their families.

Pencel: Where does the name Pencel come from?

The last name Pencel is most commonly found in the United States today. Specifically, the name is most commonly seen in the central and northeastern parts of the United States. This includes states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Virginia, with Ohio and Pennsylvania having the highest concentrations of Pencel.

The origin of the last name is linked to the country of Switzerland. It is believed that the Pencel family came from the Canton of Bern. Later on, they moved to the United States.

Today, the last name Pencel is mainly associated with the United States. Pencels are found in a variety of occupations, some of which include academics, lawyers, doctors, businesspersons, and musicians. While the name Pencel is quite common in the United States, it is not as common in Europe, where fewer than 5,000 individuals carry the surname.

There is a fair amount of diversity among those who carry the Pencel name today. While the majority of Pencels are Caucasian, there are also people from Hispanic, African American, and Asian backgrounds that carry the name. This indicates the diverse origins of the Pencel family and its members throughout history.

Overall, the last name Pencel is most commonly found in the United States, specifically in the central and northeastern parts of the country. While it is slightly more common in the United States than in Europe, it is still relatively rare worldwide. The diversity among those who carry the Pencel surname today demonstrates the complexity of its history.

Variations of the surname Pencel

The surname Pencel has various spellings and related surnames.

The Slovakian form is Pincel, which is a variation or a shortened version of the longer surname Pincelová.

The Czech spelling is Pinčel, while the related Szczepaniak and Pinčelka are variants mostly common to the Czech Republic.

The surname is also known as Pinczewski in Poland and Pincelj (also Pincellj or Pinczl) in Slovenia.

In Hungary, the spelling is often Pinczel and Pincel.

In Romania, the name can be found as Pensel and Pințel.

In Croatia and Serbia, the names Pintza, Pintzić, and Pintzel are related.

The Austrian Pagan family is also related to the Pencel surname, as is the surname Vinczöl.

The Pencel surname has evolved over the centuries and has spread to many different countries, with each new region lending to the versatility and regional variations, of the surname.

Famous people with the name Pencel

• Mike Pencel: American basketball player, selected in the first round of the 2004 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons.
• Tom Pencel: former running back in the National Football League from St. Louis, Missouri.
• Jeff Pencel: American college basketball coach, most recently head coach at Northern Kentucky University.
• Kristina Pencel: former American child actress best known for playing opposite Bruce Willis in the 1990 movie ‘Die Hard 2'.
• Gary Pencel: American Olympic alpine skier and member of the US Ski Team for six years, competing in the 1988 and 1992 Winter Olympics.
• David Pencel: former professional baseball player, drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the fourth round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft.
• Mark Pencel: American football coach, currently defensive coordinator at Northwestern University.
• Dan Pencel: former professional ice hockey player, played in the National Hockey League for six years.
• John Pencel: American Art and Design professor at SUNY New Paltz, also provided creative services for multimedia and interactive projects.
• Tomás Pencel: Spanish politician, former Mayor of Logroño and member of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party.

Other surnames

Pence